May 2 Unicef goes cryptocurrency mining

Even Unicef is going cryptocurrency mining. The aid organisation has launched an initiative in Australia to enable consumers to donate some of their computing power to the mining process.

Once users are in the project’s HopePage they can select how much of their devices’ processing power they are willing to allow their browsers to use to solve crypto algorithms. The longer they stay on the page the more power is donated, and the more cryptocurrency is earned.

The mining programme is driven by an application from Coinhive which mines Monero.

The cryptocurrency is automatically donated to Unicef Australia and “is turned into real funds that reach children through life-saving supplies like safe water, therapeutic food and vaccines,” the organisation says.

"We wanted to leverage new emerging technologies to raise awareness about current humanitarian crises and raise funds to support children caught up in them.”

Earlier this year, online magazine Salon gave readers the choice of either disabling their browser-based advertising blockers or of allowing the company to use their browsers for cryptomining. Salon is also using Coinhive to mine Monero.